LOS ANGELES (AP) — The new chief of the Los Angeles police force said his department is working with consulate offices for Mexico and other Central American countries to draft a plan to protect immigrants ahead of the Trump administration’s plans for mass deportations. In an interview with The Associated Press, Jim McDonnell said his tenure as police chief will be marked by high engagement with the community, adding that all of society must participate in the criminal justice system to create a safe place to live. A veteran police officer and former sheriff, McDonnell was selected by Mayor Karen Bass in October and sworn in last month . The LAPD does not stop people or take action for any reason related to immigration status, and it doesn’t enforce immigration laws, a practice that has been in place for 45 years, said McDonnell, referring to a department policy known as Special Order 40 enacted in 1979. Any immigration enforcement would be “undercutting our primary mission, which is to be able to build public trust to work with every member of all of our communities, to be able to have hope that people will come forward if they were a victim of crime, a witness to a crime,” McDonnell said. The department plans to work with the consulates to create and circulate a video explaining their policies to the immigrant community and alleviating their concerns. During the last Trump administration, the U.S. Justice Department attempted to withhold funding from sanctuary cities and favor cities that pledged to cooperate with immigration enforcement for federal grants. McDonnell said the department is “cognizant of what’s at stake” –- with a majority of the LAPD budget going toward personnel, the police force often relies on grants to provide for equipment and tools. He will be working with national police groups like the Major Cities Chiefs Association to advocate for law enforcement needs with the Trump administration, McDonnell said. Along with engaging the immigrant community, McDonnell said he hopes to seek a greater level of engagement from communities that traditionally haven’t felt comfortable doing so, “just human-to-human, going out and asking for help.” He also vows to build back the police force from currently just under 9,000 sworn officers to a baseline of 10,000, ideally even exceeding that number. While recent recruitment class size numbers have been in the mid-30s, he hopes to double that to 60, McDonnell said. The additional officers will be crucial as Los Angeles prepares to play host to a number of events that will draw visitors from all over the world, including the FIFA World Cup in 2026, Super Bowl in 2027 and the Olympics in 2028. One additional tool in the law enforcement arsenal is the recent passage of Proposition 36 , which reverted to a previous law making some shoplifting and drug offenses felonies again. While it will mainly affect prosecutors, McDonnell said it will make arrests for those types of crimes “more meaningful” and give local businesses more safety and comfort, preventing them from having to shut down their stores and leave the community. “As we move forward, we do so judiciously so that we use the tools that are available to us,” McDonnell said. Jaimie Ding, The Associated Press
Rebel Sport Christmas Trolley Dash Tauranga: Jolene Howden-Turnbull celebrates son’s inspiring cancer journeyThe left’s autopsy of its very predictable electoral defeat has become a comedy show. Joe Scarborough is on bended knee , licking the boots of an incoming president he has likened to Hitler. Nancy Pelosi, who first defended Biden’s mental capacity before coldly whacking him, is now blaming him for Kamala Harris’s loss . Activist “journalists” claim that Harris ran a “perfect” campaign and blame voters “who gave up on democracy.” The self-preening typifies much of what’s wrong with the contemporary American left. It’s a culture driven by its own self-exaltation and social credit scores rather than self-examination. Moral condescension and virtue signaling are its chief currency. Sociologist Musa al-Gharbi’s new book on the hypocrisy of elites, “ We Have Never Been Woke ,” captures this bonfire of the vanities. Using immigration as an example, he points to the self-dealing of elites who “have disposable servants who will clean your house, watch your kids, walk your dogs, deliver prepared meals to you” but mask their avarice in sanctimonious virtue. Meanwhile, the migrant waves over-saturate labor markets, steal working-class jobs and lower pay scales. For working Americans, this wealth transfer is yet another assault by the same liberal elites who drove the neoliberal consensus on free trade that enriched themselves — all while hollowing out working-class communities and transferring jobs abroad through unfair trade laws. Most workers lost real wages under the Biden administration. The de rigueur of the left is to cry bigotry when the working class and others object to this self-dealing. The college educateds get fat while expressing moral condescension towards anyone that questions their “multiculturalism over nation” pathos or their victimhood obsessions. Pretty clever gig if you can get it. But al-Gharbi drills down on exactly why the virtue signaling is so important to elites. In a world where universities “overproduce” the sheer number of elites, it’s become the method by which elites try to differentiate themselves and distinguish their higher social credit vis-à-vis their peers. “‘[W]okeness’ has become key a source of cultural capital among contemporary elites,” the author argues. This is perhaps why the post-modern, deconstructionist left has adopted so many policy and cultural positions — on crime, critical race, critical gender, climate absolutism, the mimicry of “river to sea” terrorist rhetoric — that play to these insular needs of donors and activists, but alienate Democrats from most voters. Rather than reading the election results, Democrats seem to be doubling down. The Post this week reported that the White House is encouraging more migrant surges with, among other things, a glitchy ICE app that allows the 230,000 illegal migrants in New York (and potentially millions elsewhere) to merely “check in” with immigration officials online rather than in person. This is music to the ears of the criminal cartels who thrive on the promise of minimal in-country monitoring and ease of evasion. The Post also reports the White House continues to battle Texas’s efforts to fortify border barriers to deter the most imminent, pre-inauguration migrant wave — yet another encouragement for the cartels. Democrats pontificated for the last four years on the virtues of democracy yet seem to be defying the clearly expressed will of the voters in favor the “virtuous” elites. One possible explanation is that they cynically believe an aggravated migrant crisis will complicate the incoming administration’s cleanup of efforts. But the irony here is that their sanctimony closes their ears; rather than superior, it leaves them intellectually impoverished. To wit, a worsened mess likely makes the new administration cleanup crew look more competent and heroic. This dynamic is at play today across multiple policy fronts. In 2021, for example, a new Biden administration had the proverbial wind at its back on climate policy. But like most of West Europe, it fleeced the opportunity with condescending preachiness and NetZero austerity policies like EV mandates that imposed high costs on American workers and consumers while doing nothing to restrain the rapidly growing carbon emissions elsewhere on the planet. As a result, the public throughout the West has become skeptical, and the major international initiatives — COP29 and the Paris Agreements — look closer to their death beds. Again, this sets the stage for the incoming administration to capitalize on newly emerging, more cooperative financing models to develop economically promising renewables and carbon capture technologies. How ironic would it be for the Trump administration to find the needed common ground on climate internationally to advance the issue. Elsewhere, the administration’s slow-walking the needed offensive armaments to Ukraine and its schizophrenic approach on Israel — pledging support one day and then, with yet more virtue signaling, undermining Israel’s efforts to root out the genocidal terrorists in places like Rafah — has also left the world more unstable and set a more favorable stage for Trump’s potential triumphalism on the world stage. And this is the point. Priggishness and moral condescension, absent any meaningful factual backing, is not just vacuous pseudo-intellectualism but, because it imperiously tries to shut down debate rather than discovering knowledge, it leaves its practitioners all the dumber. It may be the most important autopsy lesson the left could learn from the election.
Youth Extremism a Rising Issue, Says Five-Eyes Joint Report
Pathstone Holdings LLC lessened its stake in shares of Agilent Technologies, Inc. ( NYSE:A – Free Report ) by 4.3% in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 36,861 shares of the medical research company’s stock after selling 1,668 shares during the quarter. Pathstone Holdings LLC’s holdings in Agilent Technologies were worth $5,473,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. A number of other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in A. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA lifted its stake in Agilent Technologies by 5.7% during the 2nd quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA now owns 15,064,660 shares of the medical research company’s stock worth $1,952,832,000 after acquiring an additional 809,149 shares in the last quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD boosted its stake in shares of Agilent Technologies by 13.9% in the first quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 8,542,054 shares of the medical research company’s stock valued at $1,242,956,000 after purchasing an additional 1,042,926 shares during the period. Van ECK Associates Corp grew its holdings in shares of Agilent Technologies by 6.6% in the third quarter. Van ECK Associates Corp now owns 2,976,905 shares of the medical research company’s stock valued at $442,011,000 after purchasing an additional 183,716 shares in the last quarter. Impax Asset Management Group plc increased its stake in Agilent Technologies by 8.2% during the 3rd quarter. Impax Asset Management Group plc now owns 2,667,616 shares of the medical research company’s stock worth $396,088,000 after buying an additional 203,234 shares during the period. Finally, Victory Capital Management Inc. lifted its holdings in Agilent Technologies by 2.3% during the 2nd quarter. Victory Capital Management Inc. now owns 2,386,039 shares of the medical research company’s stock worth $309,302,000 after buying an additional 52,550 shares in the last quarter. Insider Buying and Selling In other Agilent Technologies news, SVP Dominique Grau sold 9,990 shares of Agilent Technologies stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, September 26th. The stock was sold at an average price of $145.00, for a total value of $1,448,550.00. Following the transaction, the senior vice president now directly owns 40,011 shares in the company, valued at approximately $5,801,595. This trade represents a 19.98 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink . Agilent Technologies Stock Performance Agilent Technologies ( NYSE:A – Get Free Report ) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, August 21st. The medical research company reported $1.32 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.26 by $0.06. The company had revenue of $1.58 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.56 billion. Agilent Technologies had a return on equity of 25.26% and a net margin of 21.75%. The firm’s revenue was down 5.6% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $1.43 earnings per share. Analysts predict that Agilent Technologies, Inc. will post 5.24 earnings per share for the current year. Agilent Technologies Increases Dividend The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, January 22nd. Investors of record on Tuesday, December 31st will be given a $0.248 dividend. This is an increase from Agilent Technologies’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.24. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, December 31st. This represents a $0.99 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.74%. Agilent Technologies’s dividend payout ratio is 19.50%. Analyst Ratings Changes Several research firms have commented on A. Citigroup boosted their price target on shares of Agilent Technologies from $150.00 to $165.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Thursday, August 22nd. Barclays lifted their price objective on Agilent Technologies from $135.00 to $145.00 and gave the company an “underweight” rating in a research note on Tuesday, October 15th. Evercore ISI upped their target price on shares of Agilent Technologies from $135.00 to $145.00 and gave the stock an “in-line” rating in a research note on Tuesday, October 1st. Bank of America lifted their price target on shares of Agilent Technologies from $140.00 to $147.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research note on Thursday, August 22nd. Finally, UBS Group increased their price objective on shares of Agilent Technologies from $141.00 to $150.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research report on Thursday, August 22nd. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, five have issued a hold rating and nine have given a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $144.36. Check Out Our Latest Stock Analysis on A Agilent Technologies Company Profile ( Free Report ) Agilent Technologies, Inc provides application focused solutions to the life sciences, diagnostics, and applied chemical markets worldwide. The company operates in three segments: Life Sciences and Applied Markets, Diagnostics and Genomics, and Agilent CrossLab. The Life Sciences and Applied Markets segment offers liquid chromatography systems and components; liquid chromatography mass spectrometry systems; gas chromatography systems and components; gas chromatography mass spectrometry systems; inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry instruments; atomic absorption instruments; microwave plasma-atomic emission spectrometry instruments; inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry instruments; raman spectroscopy; cell analysis plate based assays; flow cytometer; real-time cell analyzer; cell imaging systems; microplate reader; laboratory software; information management and analytics; laboratory automation and robotic systems; dissolution testing; and vacuum pumps, and measurement technologies. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding A? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Agilent Technologies, Inc. ( NYSE:A – Free Report ). Receive News & Ratings for Agilent Technologies Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Agilent Technologies and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .Elon Musk’s preschool is the next step in his anti-woke education dreamsWant to sample the world’s most expensive Michelin-starred tasting menu ? First, take off your shoes —and sit down on the floor. Guests hoping to dine at the one-star Ginza Kitafuku in Tokyo will have to adhere to house rules before paying $2,130 per head for the restaurant’s costliest meal — composed entirely of a kind of snow crab favored by Japan’s royal family and so revered it has its own museum. And even if you fancy yourself a shellfish-ionado, you’d better not be the squeamish type. At the elite seafoodery in the city’s tony shopping hub, patrons are treated to the sight of an expert-level chef butchering a best-in-class live animal right in front of them, just seconds before they eat. While you’ll have to avert your eyes to avoid the sight of a flailing, disembodied crab, there is some good news — those that can’t handle the traditional seating style can request the six-top in a separate room, presumably for less-flexible foreigners to feel more comfortable while enjoying the spectacle. One YouTuber called the dinner “by far one of the most incredible food experiences I have ever had,” despite struggling with the price point. Budget diners can snap up a $258 red king crab meal. That cheaper dinner still comes with a show. The out-of-the-ordinary restaurant takes the top spot on a new list compiled by food publication Chef’s Pencil , which pored over Michelin tasting menus around the world to pick the ten priciest, period, in 2024. The second most expensive is also in Asia — the three-starred Ultraviolet by Paul Pairet in Shanghai has a meal going for a whopping $1,230. The outlet called the restaurant a “a captivating fusion of gastronomy and cutting-edge visual technology” that provides a “theatrical, multi-sensory dining experience featuring meticulously crafted dishes that blend French techniques with global influences.” New York rings in at number three with the most expensive Michelin-tapped tasting menu in the United States, found at Caviar Russe on Madison Ave. Here, diners hoping for the “Tour of Caviar Russe” will pay $950 for 11, caviar-focused courses, which Forbes called an “over-the-top odyssey.” The Big Apple claimed the next slot on the list as well — Columbus Circle’s famously costly Masa was, according to Chef’s Pencil, the first in the United States to break $1,000 for a Michelin meal , including service charge and tip. For $950, Chef Masa Takayama will oversee the counter meal of your dreams, featuring truffles, Ossetra caviar and much more. At number five sits Tokyo’s tiny Azabu Kadowaki, a tiny counter joint with three Michelin stars. Despite the city’s significant representation in the top 10, a visit can be more affordable than many Americans will assume, and now more than ever, thanks to favorable exchange rates . San Francisco’s Quince was the only US restaurant besides the two in New York to make the list of fifteen, which also included the likes of Guy Savoy in Paris and Alchemist in Copenhagen.
Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save WASHINGTON — A top White House official said Wednesday at least eight U.S. telecom firms and dozens of nations were impacted by a Chinese hacking campaign. Deputy national security adviser Anne Neuberger offered new details about the breadth of the sprawling Chinese hacking campaign that gave officials in Beijing access to private texts and phone conversations of an unknown number of Americans. Neuberger divulged the scope of the hack a day after the FBI and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency issued guidance intended to help root out the hackers and prevent similar cyberespionage in the future. White House officials cautioned that the number of telecommunication firms and countries impacted could grow. Hammonton police sergeant accused of failing drug test, stealing drugs from evidence room Mays Landing man charged in hit-and-run that injured man, killed dog in Absecon $680,000 Atlantic City charter bus purchase mostly covered by state, Small says Pleasantville man accused of murdering girlfriend Mainland Regional falls to Old Tappan in state final Atlantic County Sheriff's Office warns of new scam Everything you need to know about Mainland Regional's state title game 4 Bridgeton men indicted in alleged sex trafficking ring Wonderland developer to pitch vision again Wednesday at Ocean City Tabernacle Atlantic City mayor waives first appearance on witness tampering charge Holy Spirit overcomes rain, mud, Atlantic City to win Thanksgiving rivalry, clinch WJFL division Northfield Councilman Leeds resigns, citing concerns over Mayor Chau's criminal charges 19 arrested following street operations in Atlantic City Some Atlantic City casino workers call on union boss to resign for opposing a smoking ban Mays Landing man busted for meth The U.S. believes the hackers were able to gain access to communications of senior U.S. government officials and prominent political figures through the hack, Neuberger said. “We don’t believe any classified communications has been compromised,” Neuberger added during a call with reporters. She added that Biden was briefed on the findings and the White House “made it a priority for the federal government to do everything it can to get to the bottom this.” US officials recommend encrypted messaging apps amid "Salt Typhoon" cyberattack, attributed to China, targeting AT&T, Verizon, and others. The Chinese embassy in Washington rejected the accusations that it was responsible for the hack Tuesday after the U.S. federal authorities issued new guidance. “The U.S. needs to stop its own cyberattacks against other countries and refrain from using cyber security to smear and slander China,” embassy spokesperson Liu Pengyu said. The embassy did not immediately respond to messages Wednesday. White House officials believe the hacking was regionally targeted and the focus was on very senior government officials. Federal authorities confirmed in October that hackers linked to China targeted the phones of then-presidential candidate Donald Trump and his running mate, Sen. JD Vance, along with people associated with Democratic candidate Vice President Kamala Harris. By DAVID KLEPPER - Associated Press The number of countries impacted by the hack is currently believed to be in the “low, couple dozen,” according to a senior administration official. The official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity under rules set by the White House, said they believed the hacks started at least a year or two ago. The suggestions for telecom companies released Tuesday are largely technical in nature, urging encryption, centralization and consistent monitoring to deter cyber intrusions. If implemented, the security precautions could help disrupt the operation, dubbed Salt Typhoon, and make it harder for China or any other nation to mount a similar attack in the future, experts say. Trump's pick to head the Federal Bureau of Investigation Kash Patel was allegedly the target of cyberattack attempt by Iranian-backed hackers. Neuberger pointed to efforts made to beef up cybersecurity in the rail, aviation, energy and other sectors following the May 2021 ransomware attack on Colonial Pipeline . “So, to prevent ongoing Salt Typhoon type intrusions by China, we believe we need to apply a similar minimum cybersecurity practice,” Neuberger said. The cyberattack by a gang of criminal hackers on the critical U.S. pipeline, which delivers about 45% of the fuel used along the Eastern Seaboard, sent ripple effects across the economy, highlighting cybersecurity vulnerabilities in the nation’s aging energy infrastructure. Colonial confirmed it paid $4.4 million to the gang of hackers who broke into its computer systems as it scrambled to get the nation's fuel pipeline back online. Picture this: You're on vacation in a city abroad, exploring museums, tasting the local cuisine, and people-watching at cafés. Everything is going perfectly until you get a series of alerts on your phone. Someone is making fraudulent charges using your credit card, sending you into a panic. How could this have happened? Cyberattacks targeting travelers are nothing new. But as travel has increased in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, so has the volume of hackers and cybercriminals preying upon tourists. Financial fraud is the most common form of cybercrime experienced by travelers, but surveillance via public Wi-Fi networks, social media hacking, and phishing scams are also common, according to a survey by ExpressVPN . Spokeo consulted cybersecurity sources and travel guides to determine some of the best ways to protect your phone while traveling, from using a VPN to managing secure passwords. Online attacks are not the only type of crime impacting travelers—physical theft of phones is also a threat. Phones have become such invaluable travel aids, housing our navigation tools, digital wallets, itineraries, and contacts, that having your phone stolen, lost, or compromised while abroad can be devastating. Meanwhile, traveling can make people uniquely vulnerable to both cyber and physical attacks due to common pitfalls like oversharing on social media and letting your guard down when it comes to taking risks online. Luckily, there are numerous precautions travelers can take to safeguard against cyberattacks and phone theft. Hackers can—and do—target public Wi-Fi networks at cafés and hotels to gain access to your personal information or install malware onto your device, particularly on unsecured networks. Travelers are especially vulnerable to these types of cybersecurity breaches because they are often more reliant on public Wi-Fi than they would be in their home countries where they have more robust phone plans. This reliance on public, unsecured networks means travelers are more likely to use those networks to perform sensitive tasks like financial transfers, meaning hackers can easily gain access to banking information or other passwords. One easy way to safeguard yourself against these breaches is to use a virtual private network, or VPN, while traveling. VPNs are apps that encrypt your data and hide your location, preventing hackers from accessing personal information. An added bonus is that VPNs allow you to access websites that may be blocked or unavailable in the country you are visiting. To use a VPN, simply download a VPN app on your phone or computer, create an account, choose a server, and connect. If your phone falls into the wrong hands, there's a good chance you won't be getting it back. Out of those 91,000 phones stolen in London in 2022, only 1,915 (or about 2%) were recovered. The good news is that you can take precautions to make the loss of your phone less devastating by backing up your data before you travel. With backed-up data, you can acquire a new device and still access your photos, contacts, messages, and passwords. Moreover, if you have "Find My Device" or "Find My Phone" enabled, you can remotely wipe your stolen phone's data so the thief cannot access it. It's safest to back up your data to a hard drive and not just the cloud. That way, if you have to wipe your device, you don't accidentally erase the backup, too. Strong passwords for important accounts help protect your information while you travel, but it's just a first step. The National Cybersecurity Alliance recommends creating long, unique, and complex passwords for every account and combining them with multifactor authentication to create maximum barriers to entry. If you're worried about remembering these passwords, password managers can be a vital tool for both creating and storing strong passwords. Password managers are apps that act as secure vaults for all your passwords. Some even come with a feature that allows you to temporarily delete sensitive passwords before you travel and then easily restore them once you return. Story editing by Mia Nakaji Monnier. Additional editing by Kelly Glass. Copy editing by Tim Bruns. Photo selection by Lacy Kerrick. This story originally appeared on Spokeo and was produced and distributed in partnership with Stacker Studio. The business news you need Get the latest local business news delivered FREE to your inbox weekly.NoneDana Hull | (TNS) Bloomberg News Jared Birchall, Elon Musk’s money manager and the head of his family office, is listed as the chief executive officer. Jehn Balajadia, a longtime Musk aide who has worked at SpaceX and the Boring Co., is named as an official contact. Related Articles National Politics | San Francisco’s fentanyl deportations show rare unity with Donald Trump National Politics | Biden will decide on US Steel acquisition after influential panel fails to reach consensus National Politics | Calmes: A peaceful transfer of power — you can thank Biden National Politics | Biden vetoes once-bipartisan effort to add 66 federal judgeships, citing ‘hurried’ House action National Politics | Bill Clinton is hospitalized with a fever but in good spirits, spokesperson says But they’re not connected to Musk’s new technology venture, or the political operation that’s endeared him to Donald Trump. Instead, they’re tied to the billionaire’s new Montessori school outside Bastrop, Texas, called Ad Astra, according to documents filed with state authorities and obtained via a Texas Public Information Act request. The world’s richest person oversees an overlapping empire of six companies — or seven, if you include his political action committee. Alongside rockets, electric cars, brain implants, social media and the next Trump administration, he is increasingly focused on education, spanning preschool to college. One part of his endeavor was revealed last year, when Bloomberg News reported that his foundation had set aside roughly $100 million to create a technology-focused primary and secondary school in Austin, with eventual plans for a university. An additional $137 million in cash and stock was allotted last year, according to the most recent tax filing for the Musk Foundation. Ad Astra is closer to fruition. The state documents show Texas authorities issued an initial permit last month, clearing the way for the center to operate with as many as 21 pupils. Ad Astra’s website says it’s “currently open to all children ages 3 to 9.” The school’s account on X includes job postings for an assistant teacher for preschool and kindergarten and an assistant teacher for students ages 6 to 9. To run the school, Ad Astra is partnering with a company that has experience with billionaires: Xplor Education, which developed Hala Kahiki Montessori school in Lanai, Hawaii, the island 98% owned by Oracle Corp. founder Larry Ellison. Ad Astra sits on a highway outside Bastrop, a bedroom community about 30 miles from Austin and part of a region that’s home to several of Musk’s businesses. On a visit during a recent weekday morning, there was a single Toyota Prius in the parking lot and no one answered the door at the white building with a gray metal roof. The school’s main entrance was blocked by a gate, and there was no sign of any children on the grounds. But what information there is about Ad Astra makes it sound like a fairly typical, if high-end, Montessori preschool. The proposed schedule includes “thematic, STEM-based activities and projects” as well as outdoor play and nap time. A sample snack calendar features carrots and hummus. While Birchall’s and Balajadia’s names appear in the application, it isn’t clear that they’ll have substantive roles at the school once it’s operational. Musk, Birchall and Balajadia didn’t respond to emailed questions. A phone call and email to the school went unanswered. Access to high quality, affordable childcare is a huge issue for working parents across the country, and tends to be an especially vexing problem in rural areas like Bastrop. Many families live in “childcare deserts” where there is either not a facility or there isn’t an available slot. Opening Ad Astra gives Musk a chance to showcase his vision for education, and his support for the hands-on learning and problem solving that are a hallmark of his industrial companies. His public comments about learning frequently overlap with cultural concerns popular among conservatives and the Make America Great Again crowd, often focusing on what he sees as young minds being indoctrinated by teachers spewing left-wing propaganda. He has railed against diversity, equity and inclusion efforts, and in August posted that “a lot of schools are teaching white boys to hate themselves.” Musk’s educational interests dovetail with his new role as Trump’s “first buddy.” The billionaire has pitched a role for himself that he — and now the incoming Trump administration — call “DOGE,” or the Department of Government Efficiency. Though it’s not an actual department, DOGE now posts on X, the social media platform that Musk owns. “The Department of Education spent over $1 billion promoting DEI in America’s schools,” the account posted Dec. 12. Back in Texas, Bastrop is quickly becoming a key Musk point of interest. The Boring Co., his tunneling venture, is based in an unincorporated area there. Across the road, SpaceX produces Starlink satellites at a 500,000-square-foot (46,000-square-meter) facility. Nearby, X is constructing a building for trust and safety workers. Musk employees, as well as the general public, can grab snacks at the Boring Bodega, a convenience store housed within Musk’s Hyperloop Plaza, which also contains a bar, candy shop and hair salon. Ad Astra is just a five-minute drive away. It seems to have been designed with the children of Musk’s employees — if not Musk’s own offspring — in mind. Musk has fathered at least 12 children, six of them in the last five years. “Ad Astra’s mission is to foster curiosity, creativity, and critical thinking in the next generation of problem solvers and builders,” reads the school’s website. A job posting on the website of the Montessori Institute of North Texas says “While their parents support the breakthroughs that expand the realm of human possibility, their children will grow into the next generation of innovators in a way that only authentic Montessori can provide.” The school has hired an executive director, according to documents Bloomberg obtained from Texas Health and Human Services. Ad Astra is located on 40 acres of land, according to the documents, which said a 4,000-square-foot house would be remodeled for the preschool. It isn’t uncommon for entrepreneurs to take an interest in education, according to Bill Gormley, a professor emeritus at the McCourt School of Public Policy at Georgetown University who studies early childhood education. Charles Butt, the chairman of the Texas-based H-E-B grocery chain, has made public education a focus of his philanthropy. Along with other business and community leaders, Butt founded “Raise Your Hand Texas,” which advocates on school funding, teacher workforce and retention issues and fully funding pre-kindergarten. “Musk is not the only entrepreneur to recognize the value of preschool for Texas workers,” Gormley said. “A lot of politicians and business people get enthusiastic about education in general — and preschool in particular — because they salivate at the prospect of a better workforce.” Musk spent much of October actively campaigning for Trump’s presidential effort, becoming the most prolific donor of the election cycle. He poured at least $274 million into political groups in 2024, including $238 million to America PAC, the political action committee he founded. While the vast majority of money raised by America PAC came from Musk himself, it also had support from other donors. Betsy DeVos, who served as education secretary in Trump’s first term, donated $250,000, federal filings show. The Department of Education is already in the new administration’s cross hairs. Trump campaigned on the idea of disbanding the department and dismantling diversity initiatives, and he has also taken aim at transgender rights. “Rather than indoctrinating young people with inappropriate racial, sexual, and political material, which is what we’re doing now, our schools must be totally refocused to prepare our children to succeed in the world of work,” Trump wrote in Agenda 47, his campaign platform. Musk has three children with the musician Grimes and three with Shivon Zilis, who in the past was actively involved at Neuralink, his brain machine interface company. All are under the age of five. Musk took X, his son with Grimes, with him on a recent trip to Capitol Hill. After his visit, he shared a graphic that showed the growth of administrators in America’s public schools since 2000. Musk is a fan of hands-on education. During a Tesla earnings call in 2018, he talked about the need for more electricians as the electric-car maker scaled up the energy side of its business. On the Joe Rogan podcast in 2020, Musk said that “too many smart people go into finance and law.” “I have a lot of respect for people who work with their hands and we need electricians and plumbers and carpenters,” Musk said while campaigning for Trump in Pennsylvania in October. “That’s a lot more important than having incremental political science majors.” Ad Astra’s website says the cost of tuition will be initially subsidized, but in future years “tuition will be in line with local private schools that include an extended day program.” “I do think we need significant reform in education,” Musk said at a separate Trump campaign event. “The priority should be to teach kids skills that they will find useful later in life, and to leave any sort of social propaganda out of the classroom.” With assistance from Sophie Alexander and Kara Carlson. ©2024 Bloomberg News. Visit at bloomberg.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — A lopsided, shutout loss has left the beat-up New Orleans Saints limping into the final two games of a lost season — and into a rather cloudy future beyond that. Saints interim coach Darren Rizzi figured that a visit to playoff-bound Green Bay would be a tall order for his injury-riddled squad, whose prominent missing players included starters at quarterback, running back and receiver. And when New Orleans' mostly healthy defensive front struggled against a Packers ground game led by running back Josh Jacobs, the rout was on. Nothing "stuck out on film other than a lack of execution and lack of playmaking,” Rizzi said Tuesday after reviewing video of Monday night's 34-0 loss at Green Bay . “We played against a playoff team, at their place, that has very few holes on their team,” Rizzi added. “It was a little bit of a perfect storm." Rizzi, a special teams coordinator who has made no secret that he sees his eight-game interim stint as an opportunity to further his head-coaching ambitions, has two more games left in what has been an up-and-down audition. The Saints are 3-3 on his watch, which includes one of New Orleans' most lopsided losses since the turn of the century. With the playoffs unattainable, and with a lot of reserves pressed into service, the final two weeks will serve primarily as a player-evaluation period heading into the offseason, when there are bound to be myriad changes on the roster and perhaps the coaching staff. Rizzi said the Saints, realistically, have been in evaluation mode “for the last month or so,” but added that there maybe be additional young or practice-squad players getting longer looks in the final two games. “My big thing this week is to see how we can respond,” Rizzi said. “We’re going to find out a lot about a lot of people.” Of the Saints' four punts, three were inside the Green Bay 20 and New Orleans did not allow a single punt return yard. The punt team might have been the only unit that executed its job (even the kickoff unit allowed a 38-yard return). The Saints had trouble protecting the quarterback (three sacks) and protecting the football (two turnovers). They couldn't run the ball (67 yards). They couldn't stop the run (188 yards allowed). They couldn't pass the ball consistently (129 yards) or stop the pass when they needed to. As former Saints coach Jim Mora once said, they couldn't do “ diddly poo .” Although rookie quarterback Spencer Rattler largely struggled and was responsible for both New Orleans turnovers, he had enough highlights — including a jumping, first-down pass on third-and-long — to keep him penciled in as the starter if the injured Derek Carr remains unable to play, Rizzi said. “It was definitely a performance where we got to take the good with the bad,” Rizzi said. “We've got to get rid of those negative plays.” New Orleans native Foster Moreau has emerged as one of the Saints' most reliable offensive players. The sixth-year NFL tight end made two catches for a team-high 33 yards on Monday night, giving him 25 catches for 335 yards this season. His four TDs receiving entering the game remain tied for the team lead. Rizzi was riding high after two wins to start his interim term as head coach, but Monday night's ugly loss is the club's third in four games and took a lot of luster off his candidacy for a longer-term appointment. Center Erik McCoy left the game with an elbow injury, while guard Lucas Patrick hurt his knee in the closing minutes. Rizzi said McCoy won't need surgery but could miss the rest of the season. The coach said Patrick needs more tests but is not expected to play again this season. While the chances of Carr (non-throwing, left hand) or top running back Alvin Kamara (groin) playing again this season appear slim, the Saints have declined to rule that out. Rizzi said Carr is getting closer to being able to play and wants the opportunity to go against his former team, the Las Vegas Raiders. Meanwhile, Rizzi said Kamara “is working his tail off to try to come back” this season. “Alvin told me this morning, in my office, that he really would like to play again,” Rizzi said. 24 — The number of years since the Saints suffered a more lopsided shutout loss, 38-0 against San Francisco in 2002. The Saints' home finale against lowly Las Vegas will be an anticlimactic affair bound to generate a level of fan interest similar to, if not less than, a preseason game. But the game will be important to the current regime, which needs victories in each of the club's final two games to avoid the franchise's worst record since it was displaced by Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and went 3-13. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL33 best Lego gifts for master builders of all agesEcuador’s power outages due to drought
The People’s Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL), Mysuru, has condemned BJP MLC C.T. Ravi for allegedly using derogatory and unparliamentary words against Minister for Women and Child Development Laxmi Hebbalkar in the Legislative Council on the concluding day of the recent Legislature session in Belagavi. In a statement here, PUCL Mysuru president Kamal Gopinath and General Secretary V. Purushottam also welcomed the CID probe announced by the State government in the matter. While condemning the ‘road show and TV tamasha’ over the arrest of the BJP MLC, the PUCL sought to train its guns on the ‘patriarchal and anti-women’ mindset of the saffron party. Expressing confidence that the probe will expose all the sides of the incident and the subsequent turn of events, the PUCL said the utterances of the Chairman of Legislative Council Basavaraj Horatti regarding the events, which occurred under his watch, also ‘leave much to be wanted’. The PUCL has also condemned Union Home Minister Amit Shah for ridiculing B.R. Ambedkar in the Parliament and misleading the members of the House on Dr. Ambedkar’s positive role in the progressive Hindu Code Bill, alongside Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru. “Mr. Shah does not deserve to continue as a member of the Union Cabinet,” the PUCL statement said. It also expressed dismay over the insensitive manner in which the Union government had refused to respond to the 10-month-long protest of farmers of Punjab while criticising the Centre for “obfuscating” burning issues such as price rise that the country was facing. Published - December 24, 2024 10:57 pm IST Copy link Email Facebook Twitter Telegram LinkedIn WhatsApp Reddit Karnataka / Mysore / state politics / Bharatiya Janata Party / Indian National Congress / Belgaum / minority group / dalits / social issue / arable farmingMichael Saylor Declares Bitcoin The World's First 'Perfect Money'
PRINCESS Kate's star-studded Christmas carol concert has started - as she emphasises the "importance of empathy" in a message of hope. The Princess of Wales called for people to "slow down and reflect on the deeper things that connect us all" and turn to "love, not fear" as she opened the televised service. 8 Princess Kate at her Together at Christmas carol concert with son Prince Louis Credit: AP 8 Royal family members gathered at Princess Kate's annual concert on December 6 Credit: Getty 8 In a preview montage, Kate was seen greeting kids Credit: Instagram 8 Princess Kate and Prince Louis share a tender moment at the royal carol service Credit: PA 8 Lip Reader Nicola Hickling told The Sun the young Prince is saying 'we're looking out for each other' The fourth annual Together at Christmas concert was filmed at Westminster Abbey earlier this month, with husband Prince William and children Prince George, 11, Princess Charlotte, nine, and six-year-old Prince Louis in attendance. It will feature performances by Paloma Faith, jazz singer Gregory Porter, singer-songwriter JP Cooper, alongside the Soul Sanctuary Choir, and new singing talent Olivia Dean. Olympic cycling legend Sir Chris Hoy, who revealed he has terminal prostrate cancer in recent weeks, lit a candle, as did wife of late rugby league star Rob Burrow, who died in June following a battle with motor neurone disease. Readings will also be given by actors Richard E Grant, Downton Abbey star Michelle Dockery, and Sophie Okonedo, as well as Olympic swimming gold medallist Adam Peaty. Read More Royals MESSAGE OF HOPE King picks ex-hospital for speech to reflect on year after cancer diagnosis CUT OFF Meghan ‘has NO communication with Charles & Camilla’ amid ‘fragile ceasefire’ However, Kate, 42, is understood to have refused to invite scandal-hit royal Prince Andrew to the bash. The Prince and Princess of Wales are reportedly not keen to have the disgraced Duke of York at their public events - and rejected a proposal to have him seated behind a pillar, it is claimed. BEHIND-THE-SCENES Meanwhile, earlier today Kate gave a sweet message after sharing behind-the-scenes footage from the concert. In a video she could be seen beaming as she greeted children in an unseen montage . Most read in Royals IN THE DOCK Suspect appears in court charged with murder of man near Scots nightclub RANGERS RAGE Gers slam SFA over 'serious concerns' as final VAR officials return to action IN THE MARKET Aberdeen 'submit transfer offer' for 37-times capped international captain POISON PEN I got death threats from Rangers fans says ex-SPFL star, it wasn't just one Adorable moment Prince Louis 'tells' mum Kate 'we're looking out for each other' during her Christmas carol service PRINCE Louis told mum Kate "we're looking out for each other In a heartfelt video shared on social media of the carol service , Kate beams down at Prince Louis, six, who appears to reassure her. Lip Reader Nicola Hickling told The Sun the young Prince is saying: "We're looking out for each other." Watch the adorable moment here . A post from the Waleses' Instagram today said: "This service reflects upon the importance of love and empathy, and how much we need each other, especially in the most difficult times of our lives. "Thank you to everyone who has been a part of this year’s celebrations." I've covered royals' Xmas for decades, shock hilarious comment to the public stole the show one year It comes after Kate began easing back into public duties after announcing she was cancer-free in September. She officially returned to work last month when she joined William for the annual Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall in South Kensington, London . Then earlier this month she met Qatar's Royal Family during a two-day state visit to the UK. Her heartfelt message was included in a letter handed out to every guest during the concert on December 6, before being shared as a video clip ahead of the Christmas Eve broadcast. It played as a voice over at the beginning of ITV's coverage this evening. Kate said: "Christmas is one of my favourite times of the year, it is a time for presents, tinsel and mince pies, but it's also a time to slow down and reflect on the deeper things that connect us all. "It is when we stop and take ourselves away from the pressures of daily life, that we find the space to live our lives with an open heart, with love, kindness and forgiveness, so much of what the Christmas spirit is all about. "The Christmas story encourages us to consider the experiences and feelings of others. It also reflects our own vulnerabilities and reminds us of the importance of giving and receiving empathy, as well as just how much we need each other in spite of our differences. Above all else, it encourages us to turn to love, not fear." Kate continued: "The love that we show ourselves and the love we show others. "Love that listens with empathy, love that is kind and understanding, love that is forgiving, and love that brings joy and hope. "It is love which is the greatest gift we can receive, not just at Christmas but every day of our lives." The service is featuring a narration by Scottish actress Kelly Macdonald - known for films Trainspotting and No Country for Old Men. It will also "feature three special community films which bring to life the stories of people and organisations who have inspired, counselled and comforted others in their times of need". Kensington Palace said: "In each of the films, the groups are seen receiving letters from the princess inviting them to attend – and in the case of the Sankofa Songsters sing at – the service at Westminster Abbey." The films will showcase the Worcestershire Gingerbread Group, Go Beyond and intergenerational choir the Sankofa Songsters. The first highlights a single mum based in Worcestershire, who set up the group to tackle loneliness. Go Beyond sees six young carers, aged between eight and 13, who "go above and beyond every day to show empathy and support to their families". Sankofa Songsters features an intergenerational choir which brings together care home residents and their young friends. Kensington Palace said the choir has "enhanced the lives of everyone, strengthening relationships between all ages by spreading kindness and love, with members aged from two to 100". HELPING HAND Kate reached out to grieving Lady Gabriella Windsor, 43 - daughter of Prince and Princess Michael of Kent - for help in planning the concert. The princess made contact over the summer after Lady Gabriella's husband Thomas Kingston, 45, died in February. She went on to play a major role in putting on the service. One of Lady Gabriella’s personal touches was helping to engage youth charity Restore the Music, who played to guests as they queued to enter the service. Polly Moore, CEO of Restore the Music, said: "Lady Gabriella is incredibly passionate about music and helping young people find their voice. "She has been an ambassador for us for the past five years and often attends our events. When she messaged to ask if I would be interested I said, 'Are you kidding, of course!' Read more on the Scottish Sun SHOCK SWOOP Former Celtic boss 'lines up shock January transfer swoop for Kyogo Furuhashi' MAKE THE YULETIDE GREY White Christmas update for Scots as snow & 80mph winds wreak chaos "She was incredibly approachable and a brilliant sounding board in the planning process. She’s the most wonderful person. I’m extremely grateful to her." Lady Gabriella also helped select singer Gregory Porter and pianist Rosey Chan to perform a specially-composed lyrical piece that was played alongside a poem read by Ms Okonedo. Timeline of Kate's health battle & recovery Jan 16 : Kate is admitted to the London Clinic for abdominal surgery Jan 17 : Kensington Palace announce the princess underwent surgery Jan 18 : William spends time at Kate's bedside Jan 23 : The princess' hospital stay passes one week Jan 29 : Kate leaves hospital Feb 27: Prince William pulls out of service last-minute due to 'personal matter', sparking wave of unfounded conspiracy theories about Kate’s health Mar 4: Princess pictured in the car with mum Carole on the Windsor estate Mar 10 : Royal posts a sweet snap of her and the kids for Mother's Day – then fans started spotting flaws, and massive agencies put out 'kill notice' on photo Mar 11: Kate admits she edited photo, and is snapped in car with William Mar 16: Royal fans spot the princess at farm shop near Windsor Mar 17: Onlookers see Kate watching her youngsters playing sport Mar 18: The Sun exclusively published video of Kate and Wills from two days prior Mar 22: Kate bravely reveals in an emotional video that she was given a shock cancer diagnosis April 29: Kate and William mark 13th anniversary releasing unseen wedding photos June 8: Kate does not attend Colonel's Review but letter she penned to Irish Guards reveals she said: "I do hope that I am able to represent you all once again very soon" June 14: Kensington Palace announces the princess will attend the King's Birthday Parade June 15: Kate beams as she joins her family at the annual Trooping the Colour event July 14: The royal attends Wimbledon with sister Pippa and Princess Charlotte to hand out trophies to players July 15: Kate shares a touching photo of Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis watching England in the Euro 2024 final August 11: She joins a bearded Prince William in a video to congratulate Team GB in the Olympics September 9: Kate reveals her treatment for cancer has finished 8 Princess Beatrice of York and her husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi with Zara Tindall at Westminster Abbey Credit: AFP 8 Kate attended the Remembrance service last month Credit: Andrew Parsons / Kensington Palace 8 Princess Kate met Qatar's Royal Family this month Credit: AFPBetty White Forever: New stamp will honor the much-beloved 'Golden Girls' actor
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